The Lamb

John the Immerser said this about Jesus in John 1:20-31, “He openly admitted and did not deny; he admitted, “I am not the Messiah.” “What then? Are you Elijah?” they asked him. “I am not,” said John. “Are you the Prophet?” “No,” he answered. So they said to him, “Who are you? Give us an answer for those who sent us. What do you say about yourself?” He said, “I am ‘the voice of one crying in the wilderness, “Make straight the way of Adonai,”’ as the prophet Isaiah said.” Now those sent were from the Pharisees. They asked him, “If you’re not the Messiah, Elijah, or the Prophet, why then are you immersing?” “I immerse in water,” John answered. “Among you stands One you do not know, coming after me, whose sandals I’m not worthy to untie.” These things happened in Bethany beyond the Jordan, where John was immersing. The next day, John sees Yeshua coming to him and says, “Behold, the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world! This is the One about whom I told you, ‘He who comes after me is above me, because He was before me.’ I didn’t know Him, but I came immersing with water so that He might be revealed to Israel.”

John said behold the Lamb of God who takes away the sins of the world!!  We all can be so thankful that God loved us so much that He sent His only begotten Son that whosoever believed in Him would not perish but have everlasting life, praise the Lord.  Did you ever wonder why Jesus was called the Lamb of God?  I got thinking about this and also prayed about it and I thought I’d try to bring a message of encouragement about it.     

I know in the Old Testament the sacrificial system was set up and sacrifices were given for the sins of the people and for other reasons also.  The animals that were sacrificed had to be without spot or blemish, an animal with no defects regardless if it was a lamb, a goat or a bull, they had to be without blemish whatever animal it was; and, if I remember right, they had to be the first fruits that came from the womb.

Read what it says about Jesus in 1 Corinthians 15:20-28, “But now Messiah has been raised from the dead, the firstfruits of those who have fallen asleep. For since death came through a man, the resurrection of the dead also has come through a Man. For as in Adam all die, so also in Messiah will all be made alive. But each in its own order: Messiah the firstfruits; then, at His coming, those who belong to Messiah; then the end, when He hands over the kingdom to God the Father after He has destroyed all rule and all authority and power. For He must reign until He has put all His enemies under His feet. The last enemy to be destroyed is death. For God has “put all things in subjection underneath His feet.” But when the psalmist says that “all” has been put in subjection, it is clear that this does not include God Himself, who put all things under Messiah. Now when all things become subject to Him, then the Son Himself will also become subject to the One who put all things under Him, so that God may be all in all.”

Jesus was the first fruit from God and He would be the perfect sacrifice, the one who had no sin, who would give His life for the sins of mankind.  All other animal sacrifices were for a covering over of sins but they could never erase sin completely; but when Jesus Christ shed His blood it not only covered our sin, but it cleansed our sins to be remembered no more, that is the power of the blood of the Lamb of God who takes away the sins of all those who put their trust in Him.

Please read what it says in Hebrews 10:1-18, “The Torah has a shadow of the good things to come—not the form itself of the realities. For this reason it can never, by means of the same sacrifices they offer constantly year after year, make perfect those who draw near. Otherwise, would they not have ceased to be offered, since the worshipers—cleansed once and for all—would no longer have consciousness of sins? But in these sacrifices is a reminder of sins year after year— for it is impossible for the blood of bulls and goats to take away sins. So when Messiah comes into the world, He says, “Sacrifice and offering You did not desire, but a body You prepared for Me. In whole burnt offerings and sin offerings You did not delight. Then I said, ‘Behold, I come to do Your will, O God (in the scroll of the book it is written of Me).’” After saying above, “Sacrifices and offerings and whole burnt offerings and sin offerings You did not desire, nor did You delight in them” (those which are offered according to Torah), then He said, “Behold, I come to do Your will.” He takes away the first to establish the second. By His will we have been made holy through the offering of the body of Messiah Yeshua once for all. Indeed, every kohen stands day by day serving and offering the same sacrifices again and again, which can never take away sins. But on the other hand, when this One offered for all time a single sacrifice for sins, He sat down at the right hand of God— waiting from then on, until His enemies are made a footstool for His feet. For by one offering He has perfected forever those being made holy. The Ruach ha-Kodesh also testifies to us—for after saying, “This is the covenant that I will cut with them:  ‘After those days,’ says Adonai, ‘I will put My Torah upon their hearts, and upon their minds I will write it,’” then He says, “I will remember their sins and their lawless deeds no more.” Now where there is removal of these, there is no longer an offering for sin.”

Jesus came to give His life a ransom for all who would put their faith and trust in Him.  He came as Lamb led to the slaughter by the craftiness of wicked men.  Yes, He was the sacrificial Lamb of God and He accomplished everything that God the Father had sent Him to accomplish.

Please read His last words when He was crucified in John 19:28-30, “After this, when Yeshua knew that all things were now completed, to fulfill the Scripture He said, “I am thirsty.” A jar full of sour wine was sitting there, so they put a sponge soaked with the sour wine on a hyssop branch and brought it to His mouth. When Yeshua tasted the sour wine, He said, “It is finished!” And He bowed His head and gave up His spirit.”

Jesus died and was buried and the evil one and his followers must have been so happy, maybe they threw a party celebrating His death.  But on the third day, Jesus rose again and if they did throw a party I am sure the party was over and fear took the place of joy.  Jesus came to earth the first time as the Lamb of God, but when He returns, He will come as the Lion of Judah.

Please read Revelations 5:1-7, “And I saw in the right hand of the One seated upon the throne a scroll, written on both the front and the back, sealed with seven seals. I also saw a mighty angel proclaiming with a loud voice, “Who is worthy to open the scroll and to break its seals?” No one in heaven or on the earth or under the earth was able to open the scroll or to look into it. I began to weep loudly because no one was found worthy to open the scroll or to look into it. Then one of the elders tells me, “Stop weeping! Behold, the Lion of the tribe of Judah, the Root of David, has triumphed—He is worthy to open the scroll and its seven seals.” And in the midst of the throne and the four living creatures, and in the midst of the elders, I saw a Lamb standing, as having been slain—having seven horns and seven eyes, which are the seven spirits of God sent out into all the earth. He came and took the scroll from the right hand of the One seated on the throne.”

If you would like your name written in the Book of Life, repent of your sins, which means to turn in the other direction.  Tell the Lord that you are sorry for your sins and ask Him to forgive you.  Then ask Him to come into your life and cleanse and wash you of your sins with His precious blood and to make you His child.  If you are truly sincere, I believe that it will happen because Jesus didn’t come into the world to condemn the world but through Him the world might be saved.

Please read John 3:16-17, “For God so loved the world that He gave His one and only Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish but have eternal life. God did not send the Son into the world to condemn the world, but in order that the world might be saved through Him.”

Then pray about a church you can go to that preaches the Word of God and start growing in your new found faith!!  Enough said; I hope this has been a help to you.  May the good Lord bless you and yours and may you have a super day!!  PS Don’t forget to thank and praise the Lord, for He is worthy!!